Meet Mabouba Diagn

By day, Mabouba Diagne is a Lifestyle Attendant at Snowy 2.0’s Lobs Hole site. But outside of work and in his downtime, Mabouba/ AKA Wali Diid, has a passion and dream to see Australian hip-hop on the global stage.

Born in Sydney to Senegalese parents from Kaolack, Mabouba’s upbringing was a blend of cultures and languages. He attended a French International School, where he excelled academically but found his true passion not in textbooks—but in poetry. “I really like words,” he says. “At 17, I started writing a full page of lyrics every morning, along with my dreams.”

That ritual became the foundation for his musical identity Wali Diid. Inspired by music industry legends like Tupac Shakur and Kendrick Lamar, Mabouba adopted his rap name Wali Diid in tribute to his late uncle—a rapper in Senegal whose life was cut short in his twenties.

Mabouba’s journey to the Snowy Mountains has been anything but a straight pathway. After dabbling in medicinal chemistry, he switched

to hands-on work—working on construction sites, even working as a dogman on cranes. Ironically, it was his personal trainer certification that landed him at Snowy 2.0, where the steady income and flexible hours allow him to keep chasing his musical ambitions.

“I’m grateful,” he says. “This job gives me the space to create. And I want to shine a light on Australian rap—make sure the world knows we’re here.”

With talent, tenacity, and a story that defies convention, Wali Diid is one to watch. From the depths of Lobs Hole to the heights of hip-hop, his journey is just beginning!